What percentage of patients switch from Invisalign to braces? A retrospective study evaluating the conversion rate, number of refinement scans, and length of treatment
This retrospective clinical study aimed to determine what percentage of patients switched from Invisalign to braces to finish treatment. We also examined the number of refinement scans per treatment and the estimated vs actual length of treatment. Records from 500 patients (average age 33.6 years) t...
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| Published in: | American journal of orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics Vol. 163; no. 4; pp. 526 - 530 |
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
United States
Elsevier Inc
01-04-2023
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Get full text |
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| Summary: | This retrospective clinical study aimed to determine what percentage of patients switched from Invisalign to braces to finish treatment. We also examined the number of refinement scans per treatment and the estimated vs actual length of treatment.
Records from 500 patients (average age 33.6 years) that started with Invisalign Full or Invisalign Teen were gathered from 2 orthodontic offices and evaluated. Data was collected from the doctors’ consultation notes, treatment notes, and Invisalign Web site databases. There were 2 independent variables: gender (male and female) and age groups (aged <20 years, 20-30 years, and >30 years).
One in every 6 patients (17.2%) switched from Invisalign to braces. Invisalign treatment required an average of 2.5 refinement scans, and only 6.0% of patients could complete their treatment without a single refinement scan. The average length of Invisalign treatment was 22.8 months, this was 5.1 months more than the estimated length. The average number of aligners was 64.1, but for the patients that switched to braces, the average number of aligners was 80.6 plus an additional 6.9 months of braces. There was no statistical difference between gender or age group and the conversion to braces. However, patients in the oldest age group had a significantly greater number of refinement scans.
We are likely overestimating an office’s efficiency using Invisalign. On average, an Invisalign patient will require approximately 2-3 refinement scans and 2 years of treatment, and there should be a reasonable expectation that braces may be needed.
•One in every 6 patients (17.2%) switched from Invisalign to braces.•Invisalign treatment required an average of 2.5 refinement scans.•The average length of Invisalign treatment was 22.8 months.•We may be overestimating Invisalign’s effect on an office’s efficiency. |
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| Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 |
| ISSN: | 0889-5406 1097-6752 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.ajodo.2022.03.016 |